Installation for fighting fire

ABSTRACT

An installation for fighting fire has, in one embodiment, first and second releasing devices for first and second groups of spray heads that overlap at border spray heads. The border spray heads are activatable by either of the first or second releasing devices and check valves at the border spray heads prevent extinguishing liquid from flowing from an activated one of the first or second groups of spray heads into the other. In a second embodiment, one spray head distributes extinguishing liquid to other spray heads.

The present invention relates to an installation for fighting fire, withat least one releasing means reacting under the influence of anindication of fire, to initiate a fire extinguishing process.

In known equipment of this kind, especially in public spaces, such asrestaurants, that particular individual sprinkler, the release ampouleor the like of which becomes under influence of hot air or smoke, hasbeen activated. It has hereby been presumed that hot air or smoke risespractically in the vertical direction.

In reality, e.g. ventilation causes the hot air or the smoke to moveobliquely upwards, for which reason often such a sprinkler which is notpositioned right above the fire, has been activated. An active sprinklerin "wrong" position may lead to a general cooling in the room, with theresult that the "correctly" positioned sprinkler above that fire remainsinactive in spite of the fire developing.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new fire-fightingistallation which eliminates the said problem.

The equipment according to the present invention is mainly characterizedin that said releasing means is arranged to activate a group of sprayheads.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said group of spray headsforms a part of a larger system of individually activatable spray headgroups. Preferably the groups of spray heads are aranged to overlap eachother by means of the respective border spray heads which areactivatable alternatively within either respective group. This can beachieved e.g. by means of check valves at the border spray heads, whichvalves prevent extinguishing liquid from flowing from an activated groupof spray heads to an inactivated group of spray heads.

The groups of spray heads can be positioned near or at the ceiling of arestaurant room, whereat one or several releasing spray heads can beprovided for each group of spray heads and the releasing spray head orheads are preferably arranged to distribute extinguishing liquiddirectly to the other spray heads in the respective group.

The spray heads, their individual nozzles and the mutual arrangement ofthe nozzles are preferably made according to what is presented in theinternational patent applications PCT/FI92/00060, PCT/FI92/00155 andPCT/FI92/00156, to produce a fog-like spray of a high operating pressureand having a good penetration power.

By a fog-like spray is meant a spray of small droplets having a diametertypically 30 to 100 microns and preferably set in a strong whirlingmotion. By a high operating pressure is here in general meant from about100 bar up to about 300 bar, as compared to an operating pressure ofgenerally 2 to 10 bar in conventional sprinkler installations, whichproduce a rain-like spray. It shall be noted, however, that the valuesgiven above are not absolute; definite limiting values are difficult topresent.

One important advantage of a fog-like spray in connection with aso-called group activation, as here presented, is that a curtain effectis obtained, i.e. that the area and space covered by an activated groupof spray heads will be separated from the rest of the larger space, sothat most of the fog-like spray remains in the fire area. Further, thatair which is sucked into the fire from the sides brings "fog" into thefire, and the smoke generated by the fire becomes at least partiallywashed.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one releasemeans is positioned in an upper region of the respective space and atleast one spray head governed by the release means is positioned in thefloor or in a wall of the respective space. Especially in thisembodiment, the release means may, instead of a spray head, be e.g. asmoke detector which gives a signal to e.g. a solenoid valve which inturn activates a group of spray heads. Thus, the extinguishing liquidneed not necessarily be distributed to the respective group of sprayheads through the releasing means itself, such as a spray head, butelectrical or electronical known activating equipment may be employed,alternatively.

A releasing spray head can be arranged to distribute extinguishingliquid to one or a group of secondary spray heads directly orindirectly, through a guide or governor valve. Preferred embodiments ofsuch valves are defined in claims 9-12.

The invention shall in the following be described in more detail, withreference to exemplifying preferred embodiments shown in the attacheddrawing.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an arrangement of spray heads in a ceiling ofa relatively large space, e.g. a restaurant room, seen from above.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the same space.

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of a release spray head, suitablefor use in the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an arrangement of spray heads in the ceilingand in the floor of a smaller room, such as a computer room, seen fromabove.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the room of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A shows a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of a guidevalve, in inactivated state, suitable for use e.g. in the arrangement ofFIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 6B shows an enlarged portion of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 shows the same valve in activated state.

FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of a guidevalve, in inactivated state, suitable for use e.g. in the arrangement ofFIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 9 shows the valve of FIG. 8 in activated state.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the valve of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates the operating principle of the guide valve of FIGS.8-10, for a group of spray heads.

FIG. 12 shows the spray head group of FIG. 11 in relation to a largerinstallation.

FIG. 13 shows a longitudinal section of a release spray head suitablefor use e.g. in the arrangements of FIGS. 4 and 5 and of FIGS. 11 and12.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference numeral 1 indicates a space, such as arestaurant room. The reference numeral 2 indicates the floor of thespace, in FIG. 2.

A number of releasing, or activating or governing spray heads aredesignated 3 and each such spray head 3 is in connection with e.g. foursurrounding spray heads 4, through conduits 5.The releasing spray heads3 can also be called primary spray heads, whereas the spray heads 4 canbe called secondary spray heads. In the connections 5 between suchsecondary spray heads 4 which are connected to more than one activatingspray head 3, is arranged a check valve 6, respectively. The spray heads3 and 4 are preferably positioned in the ceiling of the room, as shownin FIG. 2.

When an activating spray head 3 has been released because of a firenearby, a high pressure pump unit 7 drives liquid via a main line 8 andthe respective feed line 10, including a governor valve 9, to therespective released spray head 3 and from that further to foursurrounding secondary spray heads 4, in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Onereleased spray head 3 thus effects extinguishing within a relativelylarge surrounding area. The check valves 6 prevent the exinguishingliquid from spreading to spray heads 4 belonging to a neighboring group.

A preferred embodiment of a release spray head 3, positioned in theceiling 1 in FIG. 1, is shown in FIG. 3. Reference numeral 10 indicatesa liquid inlet and connections to secondary spray heads 4 are indicatedby 5. A release ampoule is indicated by 12.

The spray head 3 is preferably of a structure described in theinternational patent application PCT/FI92/00060 (WO 92/15370), with aspring loaded axially movable spindle 13 having an axial channel 14 inconnection with an annular space 15 with an axial, pressure compensatingend surface 16 which makes it possible to utilize a drive pressure ofextraordinary magnitude, even up to about 300 bar, in the installation.

FIG. 3 shows the spray head in an inactivated state of rest. Upon theampoule 12 being released, e.g. by melting or crushing, the spring 17presses the spindle 13 downwards in the figure, whereat connection isopened from the inlet 10 to the conduits 5 and to the obliquelydownwards directed nozzles 18 of the spray head 3. The nozzles 18 arepreferably of a structure and in a mutual arrangement as described inthe international patent applications PCT/FI92/00155 and PCT/FI92/00156.The secondary spay heads are preferably of the same kind but need nospindle like the activating spray head 3.

In addition to, or instead of the secondary spray heads 4 positioned inthe ceiling, spray heads can be positioned in the floor. Such floorspray heads are preferably of the kind described in the internationalpatent application PCT/FI92/00213. The releasing and activating sprayheads 3 can hereby be replaced by release means only, which governvalves for the floor spray heads.

A preferred embodiment of the foregoing alternative arrangement is shownin FIGS. 4 and 5, where the reference numeral 21 indicates a relativelysmall room, such as a computer room. Spray heads at the ceiling areindicated by 22 and spray heads positioned in the floor are indicated by23.

In computer rooms it is of advantage to place necessary, often extensivecable bundles in a channel under the floor. Such a channel is indicatedby 21a in FIG. 5. As suggested in the patent application PCT/FI92/00213,the spray heads 23 are preferably arranged to spray a water fog into thecable channel 21a as well, to ensure that a fire does not spread throughthe channel and is not capable of damaging cables placed in the channel.A similar channel, e.g. for ventilation, is often present in theceiling, as indicated by 21b, and the releasing spray heads 22 arepreferably made to deliver liquid to spray heads 22a in the channel 21b.

A pump unit for extinguishing liquid is indicated by 24, the outgoingmain line thereof is indicated by 25, and individually operable guidevalves are indicated by 26. The guide valves can be incorporated inblocks 27. Feed lines to the ceiling spray heads 22 and to the floorspray heads 23 are indicated by 28 and 29, respectively. The referencenumeral 30 indicates check valves like the valves 6 in FIG. 1.Alternatively to what is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, spray heads can bepositioned on the wall instead of in the floor.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a first embodiment of a guide valve 26a in detail.The valve comprises a body 31 with an inlet head 32 from the pump mainline 25 and an outlet head 34 mounted in the opposite end, leading to aprimary, activating spray head, and with an outlet 35, near the inlet32, to secondary spray heads.

A spindle 36 is slidably arranged in the valve body 31, one end portionof the spindle extending into the inlet head 32 and the other endportion extending into the outlet head 33. Spindle seals in relation tothe inlet head 32 and in relation to the outlet head 33 are indicated by37 and 38, respectively. The spindle 36 has a piston 39 approximately atits mid-portion, with a seal 40 against the valve body 31. Between thespindle piston 39 and the outlet head 33 is arranged a spring 41, thespring space 42 being in connection to the atmosphere through at leastone bore 43 in the wall of the valve body near the inner end of the head33. an axial channel 44 extends from end to end through the spindle 36and the end surfaces 45 and 46 of the spindle are of equal area.

In the axial channel 44 is arranged a check valve 47 with a small axialaperture 48, a spring 49 and a seal 50.

FIG. 6 shows the guide valve in inactivated state. The inlet 32, theoutlet 34 to at least one closed primary spray head and the axialchannel 44 of the spindle 36 are filled with liquid. Since the end faces45 and 46 of the spindle have equal areas, the forces acting on the endfaces due to the liquid pressure are in balance and the spring 41presses the piston 39 rightwards in FIG. 6, with the spindle end toabutment against a stop 51 at the inlet 32. There is no connection fromthe inlet 32 to the outlet 35 leading to secondary spray heads.

When a primary spray head, connected to the outlet 34, is released, aliquid flow under high pressure starts through the valve and therebythrough the axial channel 44, including the check valve 47. The pressurefall over the check valve 47, especially over the aperture 48 to beginwith, and over the spindle 36 on the whole is great enough to force thespindle 36 to the position shown in FIG. 7, with the end face 45 againsta stop 52 in the head 33 near the outlet 34 and open a diect connectionfrom the inlet 32 to the outlet 35, as indicated by arrow 53. With thisconnection open, the liquid pressure acts on the end face 54 of thepiston 39 and ensures that the spindle remains in the position of FIG.7.

FIGS. 8-10 show a second, preferred embodiment of a guide valve 26b indetail. The valve comprises a body 61 with an inlet 62 from the pumpmain line and with a head 63 mounted in the opposite end, forming anoutlet 64 leading to a primary, activating spray head, and with twooutlets 65 and 66, near the inlet 62, to secondary spray heads.

A spindle 67 is slidably arranged in the valve body 61, one end portionof the spindle extending into the head 63. Spindle seals in relation tothe inlet portion of the valve body 61 and in relation to the head 63are indicated by 68 and 69, respectively. The spindle 67 has a piston 70approximately at its mid-portion, with a seal 71 against the valve body61. Between the spindle piston 70 and the head 63 is arranged a spring72, the spring space 73 being in connection to the atmosphere through atleast one bore 74 in the wall of the valve body near the inner end ofthe head 63. An axial channel 75 extends the from end to end through thespindle 67 and the end surfaces 76 and 77 of the spindle are of equalarea.

FIG. 8 shows the guide valve in inactivated state. The inlet 62, theoutlet 64 to at least one closed primary spray head and the axialchannel 75 of the spindle 67 are filled with liquid. Since the end faces76 and 77 of the spindle have equal areas, the forces acting on the endfaces due to the liquid pressure are in balance and the spring 72presses the piston 70 against a stop 78 near the outlets 65 and 66 tosecondary spray heads. There is no connection from the "wet" inlet 62 tothe outlets 65 and 66 which are "dry".

When at least one primary spray head, connected to the outlet 64, isreleased, a forceful liquid flow starts through the valve and therebythrough the axial channel 75 of the spindle 67. The channel 75 can bemade so narrow that the pressure fall from end to end is great enough toforce the spindle 67 to the position shown in FIG. 9 with the end face76 against a stop 79 in the head 63 near the outlet 64 and open directconnections from the inlet 62 to the outlets 65 and 66, as indicated byarrows 80.

In a preferred embodiment, a branch line is connected from therespective primary spray head to either one of the "dry" outlets 65 and66. When the primary spray head is released, pressurized liquid flowsthrough the branch line to act on the annular end 81 of the piston 70,facing to the right in FIGS. 9 and 10, with a great force. The pressurefall over the spindle 67 is then of little importance, i.e. the channel75 can be made wider and a stronger spring 72 can be used.

FIG. 11 illustrates one example of this preferred embodiment.

In FIG. 11, one guide valve 26b serves four primary spray heads 91-94,connected to the "wet" outlet 64 of the valve 26b, and nine secondaryspray heads 95-103 connected to the "dry" outlets 65 and 66 of the valve26b.

It is now assumed, that the primary spray head 93 is activated, i.e. itsrelease ampoule, or bulb 104 is released under the influence of e.g. hotair rising from a fire seat. Liquid under a high pressure starts flowingfrom the pump feed line 105 through the valve inlet 62, the axialchannel 75 of the spindle 67 therein, the outlet 64 and the lines 106and 107 to the primary spray head 93. A part of the liquid flows furtherthrough a branch line 108, connected to the primary spray head 93, andthrough the lines 109 and 110 to the formerly "dry" outlet 66 andpresses the spindle 67 of the valve 26b to the position shown in FIG.10. Thereafter liquid under high pressure flows diectly from the pumpfeed line 105 through the outlets 65 and 66 and the lines 110 and 111 toall secondary spray heads 95-103.

The function is the same if two or more primary spray heads areactivated. The activating liquid flow from the primary spray head 93 tothe guide valve 26b also goes to the secondary spray heads but the flowresistance of these are much greater than the flow resistance in thepath to the valve 26b. Check valves 112 cut the connections from thesecondary spray heads 95, 98, 101 and 102 to adjacent similar groups ofspray heads.

The spray head group shown in FIG. 11 is preferably a part of a largersystem, e.g. in the way shown in FIG. 12, where the area covered by thegroup of FIG. 11 is indicated by grey colour. The reference numerals inFIG. 12 indicate the same as in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 may give the impressionthat e.g. the spray heads 95, 96 and 97 are positioned above each other;the spray heads have been drawn in this direction for the purpose ofshowing the general structure of the spray heads, only, in reality theyare directed into the drawing plane, as will be understood from FIG. 12also. The spray heads 95-103, or some of them, may of coursealternatively be positioned in a floor.

As earlier mentioned, the primary spray heads are preferably made aspresented in the international patent application PCT/FI92/00060 andboth the primary spray heads and the secondary spray heads arepreferably made as presented in the international patent applicationsPCT/FI92/00155 and PCT/FI92/00156 to produce fog-like sprays with a goodpenetration power.

A spray head group like the one shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is veryeffective for extinguishing a fire, partly because it is fast-responsivebut also because the outer secondary spray heads of the group form, whenactivated, "curtains" of fog spray which divide the respective grouparea from the rest of a larger space, such as a restaurant room, i.e.most of the fog spray remains within the area covered by the activatedspray head group.

FIG. 13 shows in section a releasing spray head 93. It has a spindlestructure similar to the one described in connection with FIG. 3, sothat a high pressure in the inlet line 107 does not prematurely damageor crush the release ampoule 104. When the ampoule 104 is weakened andreleases the spindle structure to move downwards in the figure, theincoming from the line 107 has access to both the nozzles of the sprayhead 93 and to a branch line 108 which, as described in the foregoing,can lead to other spray heads or to a governing valve.

A similar spray head 93 can preferably be used in the arrangement shownin FIGS. 4 and 5, for the schematically drawn releasing spray heads 22.The schematically drawn spray heads 22a in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be of thesame kind as the spray heads 95-103 in FIG. 11.

Instead of, or in addition to, a pump unit as described in theforegoing, the drive unit for the extinguishing liquid can comprisehydraulic accumulators, preferably arranged as presented in theinternational patent application PCT/FI92/00193 or in the Finnish patentapplication 924752.

I claim:
 1. An installation for fighting fire, comprising:first andsecond releasing means reacting under an influence of an indication offire respectively for activating first and second groups of spray heads(4;23;95-103), said first and second groups of spray heads overlappingeach other at border spray heads (95;98;101;102), said border sprayheads being activatable alternatively by either of said first and secondreleasing means, wherein check valves (6;30;112) at said border sprayheads (95;98;101;102) prevent extinguishing liquid from flowing from anactivated one of said first and second groups of spray heads to aninactivated one of said groups of spray heads.
 2. The installationaccording to claim 1 in combination with a room to be protected, whereinsaid releasing means (3;91-94) and at least one of said groups of sprayheads (4;95-103) are in an upper region of said room.
 3. Theinstallation according to claim 1 in combination with a space to beprotected, wherein said first releasing means (22) is positioned in anupper region of said space and at least one spray head (23) of saidfirst group of spray heads is positioned in a floor of said space. 4.The installation according to claim 1, wherein said first releasingmeans is a spray head (22; 91-94) connected to a guide valve (26a;26b),said guide valve being for distributing extinguishing liquid to saidfirst group of spray heads (23;95-103).
 5. The installation according toclaim 4, wherein said guide valve (26a;26b) comprises:a valve body(31;61) with an inlet (32;62) connected to a liquid feed line (25;105),an outlet (34;64) connected to said inlet and to at least one releasingspray head (22;91-94), and at least one second outlet (35;65,66)connected to said inlet and said first group of spray heads (23;95-103);and a spindle (36;67) movable in the valve body in sealed relationthereto from a first position closing connection from said inlet (32,62)to said at least one second outlet to a second position openingconnection from said valve inlet (32;62) to said at least one secondoutlet; said spindle (36;67) having end faces (45,46;76,77) of equalarea respectively facing towards said valve inlet (32;62) and saidoutlet (34;64) to said at least one releasing spray head (22;91-94) andan axial channel (44;75) extending between said end faces (45,46;76,77),and movement from said first position to said second position being atleast partially effected by a pressure fall over the axial channel(44;75) when extinguishing liquid flows through said channel to saidreleasing spray head (22;91-94).
 6. The installation according to claim5, wherein said spindle (36;67) comprises a piston portion (39;170) insealed relation to said valve body (31;61), a spring (41;72) acting onan end face of said piston for keeping said spindle in said firstposition when there is no liquid flow through said axial channel(44;75), a second end face of said piston (54;81) being under influenceof pressure in said at least one outlet when said spindle is in saidsecond position (35;65,66).
 7. The installation according to claim 6,wherein a throttled valve element (47) is provided in said axial channel(44).
 8. The installation according to claim 6, wherein a branch line(108) is connected from said at least one releasing spray head (93) tosaid at least one second outlet (66) of said value body.
 9. Aninstallation for fighting fire comprising:a group of spray heads, and atleast one releasing means (3;22;91-94) reacting under an influence of anindication of fire for activating said group of spray heads(4;23;95-103), wherein said releasing means is a spray head (3) whichincludes means for distributing extinguishing liquid directly to saidgroup of spray heads (4).